In a firm response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft” by the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday issued a stern ultimatum. Gandhi has seven days to either present a sworn affidavit substantiating his claims or issue a public apology—failure to do either will render his accusations “baseless and invalid.”
At a press conference, Kumar stated that there is “no third option,” and warned that without legal proof under oath, the charges must be considered false.The demand follows Gandhi’s recent “Voter Adhikar Yatra,” launched in Bihar, where he accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to tamper with voter rolls.
His allegations include inflated electoral rolls in key states, manipulated entries, and misuse of voting forms—claims he supports with data from internal surveys highlighting irregularities like duplicate entries and suspicious addresses.Responding to the CEC’s ultimatum, Gandhi questioned the selective application of accountability
The issue has intensified political tensions, with claims of electoral roll manipulation and legal immunity for election commissioners—thanks to a 2023 law—raising alarms about democratic integrity.
